Brief: Groups unite in campaign fight

United by concerns about overdevelopment in Santa Monica, leaders from three community groups on Tuesday announced plans to work together to elect Planning Commissioners Ted Winterer and Richard McKinnon to the City Council.

Representatives from Santa Monicans for Responsible Growth, the Sierra Club and Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution said they would pool their resources together to help Winterer and McKinnon reach voters and raise funds. The candidates have been endorsed

That includes having volunteers call voters and knock on doors, and creating political literature to be mailed to voters.

The representatives said they are alarmed by the number of development projects approved by the City Council over the past few years, which have contributed to increased traffic and parking problems and have “created enormous impacts on the aesthetics and character of the community.”

“The rapid rate of development in Santa Monica has a tremendous impact on our quality of life, and we want our City Council to slow down and take a serious look at these impacts. We believe that Ted Winterer and Richard McKinnon will do that,” said Ivan Perkins, chair of Santa Monicans for Responsible Growth.

There are four open seats on the City Council. The election is scheduled for Nov. 6.